Cost of Living Comparison Between Legazpi and Manila Cost of Living Comparison Between Legazpi and Manila

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $671 per month in Legazpi vs $959 in Manila, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,011 per month in Legazpi vs $1,506 in Manila, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,350 per month in Legazpi vs $2,052 in Manila, rent included.

Legazpi is about 30% cheaper than Manila, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Legazpi and Manila are more affordable than the global median – Legazpi 51% lower, Manila 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 ₱197

$5.43 ₱341

-42.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.99 ₱1,066

$26.54 ₱1,664

-35.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.86 ₱179

$3.92 ₱246

-27.04%

Cappuccino

$2.04 ₱128

$2.51 ₱158

-18.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 ₱26.20

$1.39 ₱87.0

-69.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₱20.79

$0.83 ₱52.3

-60.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.05 ₱65.9

$1.16 ₱73.0

-9.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.19 ₱137

$2.74 ₱172

-20.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 ₱96.6

$1.89 ₱118

-18.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 ₱73.8

$1.40 ₱87.8

-15.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 ₱51.9

$0.99 ₱62.0

-16.16%

Eggs

$1.88 ₱118

$2.31 ₱145

-18.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.36 ₱336

$7.81 ₱490

-31.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.09 ₱256

$4.93 ₱309

-17.04%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.97 ₱437

$7.11 ₱446

-1.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 ₱145

$3.23 ₱203

-28.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 ₱101

$1.89 ₱119

-14.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱149

$3.01 ₱189

-21.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 ₱73.1

$1.82 ₱114

-35.71%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 ₱133

$2.22 ₱139

-4.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 ₱125

$2.62 ₱165

-24.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 ₱51.0

$2.17 ₱136

-62.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ₱33.02

$0.59 ₱37.12

-10.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.80 ₱176

$3.18 ₱199

-11.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.73 ₱485

$9.52 ₱597

-18.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 ₱65.6

$1.28 ₱80.5

-17.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱121

$2.02 ₱127

-3.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 ₱13.82

$0.47 ₱29.25

-53.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.66 ₱669

$12.85 ₱806

-17.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱51.8

$0.77 ₱48.26

7.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.73

$0.23 ₱14.44

8.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.96 ₱123

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₱66.6

$1.27 ₱79.5

-16.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ₱1.3M

$21.5K ₱1.3M

-0.20%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$16.9K ₱1.1M

$19.7K ₱1.2M

-14.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$152 ₱9,531

$122 ₱7,639

24.77%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$15.02 ₱942

$15.16 ₱951

-0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.47 ₱1,974

$24.00 ₱1,505

31.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.94 ₱2,003

$42.61 ₱2,673

-25.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.40 ₱339

$5.69 ₱357

-5.10%

Cinema Ticket

$5.11 ₱320

$6.88 ₱432

-25.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$134 ₱8,377

$618 ₱38.8K

-78.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,638 ₱479.1K

$8,864 ₱555.9K

-13.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$31.93 ₱2,003

$58.3 ₱3,658

-45.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.39 ₱1,216

$27.91 ₱1,751

-30.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.4 ₱3,974

$77.8 ₱4,881

-18.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$56.3 ₱3,528

$58.5 ₱3,667

-3.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$143 ₱8,984

$545 ₱34.2K

-73.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.4 ₱5,983

$285 ₱17.9K

-66.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$343 ₱21.5K

$1,928 ₱120.9K

-82.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$200 ₱12.6K

$673 ₱42.2K

-70.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,551 ₱160.0K

$4,397 ₱275.8K

-41.99%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 ₱66.9K

$2,528 ₱158.5K

-57.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 ₱16.8K

$477 ₱29.9K

-43.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.12

7.43

36.20%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Legazpi: September 13, 2026

Last update for Manila: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $143 in Legazpi versus $545 in Manila. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 78% higher in Manila, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Legazpi versus $27.00 in Manila. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $221 – making Legazpi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Legazpi vs Manila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $671 in Legazpi, $959 in Manila – roughly 43% apart. Manila costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Legazpi and $1,439 in Manila. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Legazpi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $671 in Legazpi and $959 in Manila. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 21% less in Legazpi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Legazpi, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Manila at $959. In Legazpi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manila has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $671 in Legazpi to $959 in Manila. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Legazpi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.